Savory Crock Pot French Onion Pot Roast (Printable Copy)

Tender beef slow-cooked with caramelized onions, herbs, and wine, topped with melted Gruyere cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Beef

01 - 3 to 4 pounds chuck roast
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Vegetables and Aromatics

03 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 cups sliced mushrooms, optional
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Liquid and Seasoning

07 - 1 cup beef broth
08 - 1 cup dry red wine or additional beef broth
09 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

→ For Serving

13 - 6 slices Gruyere or Swiss cheese
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - Season the chuck roast generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add onions and mushrooms if using. Sauté until onions are golden and beginning to caramelize, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
04 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together beef broth, red wine or additional broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, thyme, and rosemary until combined.
05 - Place the seared roast in the slow cooker. Top with the sautéed onions and mushrooms. Pour the braising liquid over the roast and vegetables.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours until the roast is fork-tender and pulls apart easily.
07 - Remove the roast from the slow cooker and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice or shred as desired.
08 - Place cheese slices over the meat in the slow cooker, cover, and let melt for approximately 5 minutes.
09 - Serve meat topped with caramelized onions, braising sauce, and melted cheese. Garnish with fresh parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day, and you come home to a dinner that tastes like you labored for hours.
  • Caramelized onions and red wine create a sauce so rich and savory, you will want to spoon it over everything on your plate.
  • Leftovers transform into the most decadent French dip sandwiches you have ever had.
02 -
  • Do not skip the searing step, even if you are in a hurry, because that caramelized crust adds layers of flavor you cannot get any other way.
  • If your sauce looks thin at the end, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water, stir it into the crock pot, and cook on HIGH for 10 to 15 minutes until it thickens.
  • Let the roast rest before slicing or it will lose all its juices onto the cutting board instead of staying in the meat.
03 -
  • Use a slow cooker liner if you want to skip the cleanup, because that caramelized sauce can stick to the sides and take some scrubbing.
  • If you want an even deeper onion flavor, caramelize the onions longer in the skillet, up to 15 minutes, until they are almost jammy and dark brown.
  • For a gluten-free version, double-check your soy sauce and Worcestershire labels, or swap them for tamari and a gluten-free Worcestershire brand.
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